Shell-closing machine.



H. AUCHU.

SHELL CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011s, 1911.

1,058,523, Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEE'TSSHEET 1. A5

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H. AUGHU.

SHELL CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011a, 1911.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-*BHEET 2..

UNITED STATES; PATENT QFFICE.

- 11ENRY Austin, or EMPORIUM, PENNSYLVANTLT I SHELL-CLOSIYING MACHINE To all whom it may concern: v Be it known that I, HEXRY' AUCHU, a citizen of the United States; residing'at Empo rium, county of Cal heron and State of Pennsylvania. have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Sl1ellC-l0sing' Machines of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shellclosing ma chines a My object is to provide a new shellclos--- ing machine of simple, inexpensive and durable construction which will be rapid and safe in operationgby which filled paper cartridges or shells containingexplosive may be closed or crimped. 7'

Another object is to provide a'shell clos: ing machine having novel means for -controlling and operating the shell closing mechanism by fluid "pressi ire preferably compressed air; further, to dispose the-controlling means therefor in a new position, whereby the. operator may :ivith the same hand simultaneously place the shell in the shell holder and operate the controlling means for the tluidoperated mechanism, whereby the operations-ofplacing and closing or crimping the shell may becarried on with one hand leaving the other hand free' to be used in other operations'such as filling the shellswith' explosives carried on alongside of the-machine.

A still further object is to-provide, in a shell, closing machine, particularly one in which the closing mechanism is operated by fluid pressure, novel'means foroperating the shell holder to cause the shell to be automatically clamped prior to the-closing or crimping thereof.

The foregoing objects, are to be considered" as illustrative of the scope of t-he.inven tion, rather than in restriction thereof.

One embodiment of the invention is setferth "fully hereinafter, but various.'rnoditica'tions maybe resorted to.

The crimping o'r shell closing niechanisnr used in connection: witlr the present inven tion is preferably tliatset forth and claimed in another application on shell closing machine Serial No. 651,505, filed October 13,

1311; the shell which is crimped or closed by the said shell closingt'nech ai-tis'hi and present machine, is separa'tely'claimed- Specification of Letter s latent partially descended; F'ig.-'2-

the shell holder-.clo sin'g dev ce;

wvhiohis connected plunger or *ing han s hich is .i

Application filed October 13, 1911. SerialNo. 654,506-

is a front elevation with filt3'1-1'1::pal. .S'ifl secij tion. the holder being:closeds-about; and the shell closing mechanis l g,- ide eletron; o0

section through theicontrollin m Fig. 3,;11 rear elevationgzf a perspective detail ofgt h a1 handle: 6, a [)QFSPOCEE ofg the-s helli folding means; Fig. 7', aniend iview thereo Fig. 8. a longitudinal-section th shell closing means; and Fig.2

v d the being-open. 1 Any suitable base 1'1na supper th parts and this may be locatedfon a tablleor benctig at any suitable height; =Fixedly the base 1 is the leaf 2-01: the} movable leaf-4. The leave- 2 m I) provided with any-suitable, shelllholdirig forth in mywapplicationfor sh chine Serial No. .G5-i,1i() e 1911. The paper SlIQlLWlfllQ-ll-J and which is heldby thetnembersat 6. The movable, ,lea-i'-' no open by a spring-7 interposed etw the leaf 2. Connected .;to';-lea ble member -S such as-a str 7' like which is taut whengthe lea its free end runningjthroughisle over roller 8' on leaf a i;

Rising from the base l a're th members or uprights .9 which -ha a bar 10 on which is mounted a cy ind having a head 11 surmount socket.11".' In the jt' yli i i de r is A coil spring 14 surround rig rod 13 abo e .the pistionijand bottom 11-of,the so cke t, is sustai nedliag buckling by thesocket and, A pressingaction of theadjustabl eica l e-have illustrated tliei crnnp ng 20.. -,adapted to permit the plunger to continue in my application for shell closing machines Serial No. 654,505, filed October 13,.

1911, as that is particularly adapted for use in connect-ion with the present invention, but I wish it understood that I consider said shell closing and crimping mechanism to constitute an independent invention and, further, that other shell closing and crimp- .ing devices could be used in connection with the present machine without modifying or affecting the operation thereof which will its downward movement after the arrest of the crimper 24. The mouth of the crimper is of tapered or hell shape, as shown at 26,

and arranged preferably radially of the crim er and disposed inside of it are folders 2 which are relatively thin and whose lanes extend lengthwise of the crimpe'r. he lower edges 28 ofthese folders are beveled or inclined. Thecrimper is received between and clamped by the parts of the head- 17- and has a flange 29 which bears against the under side of said head. Interposed between the heads 15 and 17 and surrounding the plunger 21 is a coil spring 30 which tends to hold the head 17 with the crimper 24 downwardly and to cushion the downward movement of the head 15 after .the crim'per 24 has been arrested by engaging the shell 6 to thereby permit the plunger 21 to be projected through the crimper to cause the infolding of the end of the shell; The rooves or channels 22 receive 'the'thin fol ers 27 which are slidable in said grooves or channels.

Disposed on the base 1 or the frame 9, or otherwise conveniently positioned is a valvecasing 31 (Fig. 4), in the chamber 32 of which slides a controlling valve 33 having a transverse port 34 and pressed by a spring 35. Any suitable means, such as a spline, feather or guide, may be provided to prevent the valve from turning. k

Leading from one sideof the valve casing 31 is the pipe 36 which runs to the head of. the cylinder 11, pipe 36 being for rthe purpose of supplying air or fluid pressure to the cylinder and for exhausting it there from. There is a port 38 in the casing 31 to keep the cylinder 11 open to the atmosphere when the valve is innormal position, as shown in Fig. 4. Air or other fluid pressure is supplied to the casing 31 by a pipe 39 leading to any suitable-source of pressure. When the valve 33. is pushed inwardly, the

port 34 registers with the pipes 36 and 39, whereby the air or other fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder and thereupon orces the piston 12 'downwardly,'and when the valve is released, the spring 35 forces said valve outwardly, thereby closing-communication pipes 39 and 36 and opening communication pipe 36 and port 38, allowing the pressure in cylinder 11 to exhaust to the atmosphere.

Secured to the which is a coil spring 41 (Fig. 9) which tendsto force downwardly a plunger 42 which is connected to the freeend of the flexible connection 8.

I prefer to so dispose the valve casing 31 that there may be provided on the valve 33 a presser bar or handle 44 which extends laterally adjacent the end of the shell holder, as shown in. Fig. 1, in such position that when the operator places the shell 6 in the shell holder, hishand which is grasping the shell naturally comes in contact with the presser bar 44 and thus at-oneoperation the shell is placed in the holder and the bar 44 pressed upon so that the valve 'ispushed inwardly to admit pressure to the cylinder 11. This feature I consider an improvement by itself, as the invention in its broadest aspect contemplates the provision of either a sliding or rotary valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of the fluid pres sure to the cylinder 11 and-itis not essentialthat the valve mechanism be constructed and located as heretofore set forth, although.its position and the use of the presser bar 44 has the peculiar advantage and constitutes the new combination heretofore set forth.

Taking a shell 6 which. has been filled with explosive except for its upper end, the operator places it in the shell holder and at the same time presses upon the presser bar 44, thereby pressing in the valve and openingcommunication between the pipes 39 and 36, whereupon theair pressure forces piston 12 and the heads 15 and 17 and folding and crimping mechanism carried thereby, downwardly. At the first movement of the head 17, the plunger 42 bears upon the strap or flexible member 8, forcing it down- \vardly and drawin the member 4 againstthe shell 6 so that t e latter is firmly held. Further downward movement of the piston causes the casing 40 to slide downwardly over the stem 42, compressing the spring 41 which by its yielding, permits the further descent of the crimping mechanism so that the bell shaped mouth 26 of the crimper receives the end of the shell 6 and imme-.

head 15 is a'casi'ng 40 in 17 stops. The head 15 continues to descend, pushing down the plunger 21 which presses in the end of the shell, completing the closing thereof.' Immediately the operator releases the presser bar 44, the valve 33 is pressed outwardly and the pressure to the cylinder cut off. The air now exhausts through pipe 36 and port 38 and the spring 14 instantly forces the plunger upwardly in the cylinder, and with the springs 18 restoring the parts to normal position. When the plunger 42 rises it relieves the tension on the flexible member 8, and the spring 7 opens the shell holder and thereupon the shell is released and can be taken out and another substituted therefor.

The cap 13 being adjustableon the plunger rod 13 by the nuts on.the screwthreaded end of the rod, any desired tension can be put on the spring 14 and, further, the extent of descent of the rod 13 and folding plunger 21 can be regulated at will,

as the engagement of the cap 13 and upper end of socket 11* determines the extent of descent of the plunger 21 and extent of infolding the end of the shell 6.

The disposition of the presser bar 44 as heretofore set forth enables the operator to conduct the closing operation of the shell with one hand, leaving his other hand free to perform other operations such as tamp ing shells with explosive.

The operative parts of the machine may be arranged in a horizontal orany other position than a vertical one.

The number of channels 22 and folders 27 can be increased or lessened as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 In a shell closer, the combination with a normally open shell holder adapted to open and close and a shell closer, said holder and closer being adapted for relative movement, and means for effecting said move ment, of means set in operation by the relative movement of the shell holder and shell closer acting to cause closing of the shell holder when-the relative movement of the shell holder and shell closer is effected.

2. In a shell closer, the combination with a shell holder adapted to open and close and a shell closer adapted for relative movement, and means for effecting said movement-,ef devices carried by the shell holder and shell closer, respectively, which are adapted for cooperation when such relative movement is effected, to cause closing of the shell holder.

3. In a shell closer, the combination With a shell holder having relatively movable members, of a flexible connection between said members, a shell closer adapted for movement in relation to the shell holder, meansfor effecting said movement, and a spring pressed device carried by the shell closer which is adapted to engage the flexible connection aforesaid and close the shell holder when the shell closer advances to close the shell.

4. In a shell closer, the combination with a shell holder adapted to open and close, and a shell closer, said holder and closer being adapted for relative movement, of means for eflecting said movement, and means on the shell holder and shell closer adapted for cooperation to close the holder when the shell closer advances to close the shell.

In a shell closer, the combination with a shell closing device, of a shell holder, fluid operated means for moving the shell holder and shell closer in relation to each other, means for causing opening and closing of the shell holder by the movements of the shell closing device, and a manually actuated controlling device for said fluid operated means which is arranged adjacent the shell holder so that it can be operated by the operator substantially at the same time he places the shell in the shell holder.

6. In a shell closer, the combination with the shell closing device, of a spring-opened shell holder. fluid operated means for moving the shell holder and shell closer in relation to each other, means operated by the shell closer adapted to close the shell holder when they move in relation to each other, and a manually operated controlling device for said fluid operated means which is arranged adjacent the shell holder so that it can be operated by the operator substantially at the same time he places the shell in the shell holder.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY AUCHU.

\Vitnesses H. V. Cox, 

